Quick backstory, vincent_blackshadow was admitted to the hospital on Superbowl Sunday with MRSA. Original link here. It was touch and go there for a while, and he spent 3 weeks in ICU before being moved for recovery. Rumor has it that he may be discharged a week from Monday, and be able to sleep in his own bed for the first time in far, far too long.

In the mean time, the Fark community has banded together in the past week, to raise over $12,400 towards his medical costs. If anyone would like to contribute, it isn't too late. Please direct your PayPal to vbl­ackshad­owfu­nd­rai­serl­ia­m­gc­o­m (you'll have to manually type this out, as Fark code won't let you copypasta it in order to befuddle 'bots.

UPDATE from his missus, fishwife:"Many, many thanks to you, ... for all you have done. The insurance claims are starting to roll in now, and I figured out that we have a $2,500 deductible to cover, and then $5,000 on top of that before the insurance starts picking up the sizable tab (thank GOD we've got good insurance). I don't know if v_b's going to have to continue with dialysis on an outpatient basis after he comes home, so each and every donation to this amazing fundraiser is going to be put to good use. Bless you."

Thank everyone so much for the well-wishes, the candles, the cards, the posterboards, the chocolates, and the financial donations. Each and everyone is is greatly appreciated for many reasons.

Just donated, glad to help in a small way. I just finished reading the original thread and it scares me how many people have to face life-threatening illnesses AND insane medical bills/bankruptcy at the same time.

Off topic on VB but OT w/MRSA: That picture of VB with his beer seems to have been taken in a multi-patient ward (see the 2nd bed beside him). I thought those things had been done away with, precisely because of MRSA. Nothing personal to VB, but who wants to be the patient in the bed beside a patient with MRSA?

I have the worst health insurance - it reimburses at Medicare rates - but my local teaching hospital accepts it. When I was admitted there in December, I stayed in a private room with my own bathroom, because that's the only kind they have. Was I just lucky?